Singlespeed & Fixed Gear"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five.
Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

So I am finally ready to get a fixed gear bike. I am currently rocking a '88 Bridgestone RB-2 that i converted to single speed (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/bridgest...ne-1988-18.htm). Originally this was going to just hold me over until i could afford better parts to make it a fixed gear. However. Ahem. It is a little too big. I believe it is a 56, and at 5'7" i am riding that bar with both feet on the ground. Still, I find it a comfy ride, and it gets me everywhere with all the style and panache of the 1980's So I am probably going to sell it, or maybe keep it. I suppose it depends what i can get for it, I've grown attached.

Moving on!

Ahem!

Iwent to a bike store the other day to try and help my mom(i am home visiting the fam) realize that a road bike might fit her needs better than her 15 year old mountain bike since she only rides on the roads around her house in CT. I happened to see what I still think is a real "pretty"(i know its not the greatest) bike, a globe roll. Well seeing its minimal lines and fixed gear prompted me to take it for a test spin. Oh yes, it was nice. I know a lot of people have bashed the globe roll, or just don't like the whole cookie cutter aesthetic, but it really was a nice ride. I could get a roll 1 for just under $500, or a roll 2 for just under $700. Anywho, the ride re-emboldened my desire to go fixed.

Here are my thoughts:

1. I work in theater, I am poor (haha, but really)
2. $500 is about the max for my budget, though maybe i could squish another bill out
3. I...uh....i lost my train of thought

So i started researching again and came up with these options:

1. Go for the globe roll. I actually test rode it and it felt great
-is it really so wrong?
2. Bikes direct, probably a kilo tt chrome or stripper.
-does it have toe bite?
-what wheelset should i buy immediately since the one on it sucks (other parts too, think my budget)
3. eighthinch scrambler v2 (i know, i know...well actually i don't really)
4. IRO. Oh an angus would be sweet.
-a WTF is in my price range, but does inspire me to think about its name)
5. Keep the Bridgestone, even though its a little too big. Everything is stock on it except the crank (i need a shorter one if i don;t want to die cornering), the chain, and rear cog. The rear cog cannot be set up to be fixed, and don't ask we what brand it is, it was recycled from another bike. This is a good option, but i will need a new wheelset, crank, cog, pedals, tires (im thinking fyxsations might be nice). I wish i had been able to find it in 53, then it would be a non issue. I may just have to sell the bugger.

I know these topics are everywhere, but i am interested in these as a comparison. Of course throw in any suggestions keeping in mind under $500 makes me a happy camper who doesn't get evicted for a bike.

sell the bridgestone pending it really doesn't fit you. I like a 54-55ish bike, and i'm 5'10". on my 56 trek my jewels are resting on the top tube, but i'm rarely standing over my bike. i have a little less than a fistfull of seat post (old steel geo, about right) so it's a bit big. if you're 5'7" then i don't think the 56 bridgestone would fit the best. (you know how to check if you're getting proper leg extension right? you want a slight bend in the knee to prevent damage. good approximation is when your heel is on the pedal and your leg is straight, then when you pedal with the ball of your foot you will have a good amount of knee bend)

looking at the questions you're asking i'm guessing you don't have a whole lot of bike experience, and thus not much experience maintaining and working on bikes. If that's true, I don't recommend buying online since you'll have to do work (though bikesdirect says just put the stem on, handlebars, and tighten wheels, they need a lot of work to be proper. wheels need to be trued, bb needs to be taken out and the threads greased, reinstall cog and lockring with grease and tighten. nothing super hard, but not things many people are comfortable doing on their own).

check around at various shops, see what's available. the globe i'm sure is fine, most people bash it because quality is comparable to a kilo tt, but it's more expensive. the globe comes with lbs service and a place to pose your questions to (and being new, there should be a lot). plus the shop will make sure your bike is in safe riding condition. if it isn't you have someone to blame.

specialized and trek are two big companies (I believe globe is actually a trek subdivision). so maybe take a look at the langster (i like that bike, but people don't like the look of the compact geo and aluminum ride). iro has some brick and mortar dealers, the mark v is nice for a beginner frame. the SE lager and masi coltello aren't bad either.

if you let us know what manufacturers are available at your local shop/s then you can get better suggestions as to what to get.

Cool! Yeah my lbs is awesome, and the guy there has always hooked it up with the labor and taught me how to do things myself. Well unforntunatly he had to close his door, and now just works on bike trailers out of his garage. He would still help though.

As far as the globe goes, i like it ( i think it was part of specialized, and broke off). At the same time though, it would be fun to learn more by building off of something like a kilo. When i get back home i will have to check the other stores in town.